Game and Technology Academy at George Mason University

The Game & Technology Academy combines collegiate experience, an interactive curriculum, and instruction from the leading game and design gurus at George Mason University to give students the latest skills in next-gen technologies required for success in game design and development. Students have the opportunity to choose courses from three specialty tracks including game programming and design, machine learning/AI with Python, or art and animation. They also gain real experience in the latest software and tools such as Unity and Unreal, among others, and get an inside look at the gaming and design industries with a visit to the Virginia Serious Game Institute.

Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with Loop Abroad, offers the unique opportunity to enjoy a hands-on, behind-the-scenes experience while training with a teaching veterinarian at the Texas Zoo campus. Over seven amazing days, students can earn vet service hours, work with a variety of exotic and large animals, and discover both the careers available in veterinary medicine and how to pursue them.

National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Business

At NYLF Business, students kick-start their careers as leaders and entrepreneurs at one of the country’s premier startup programs. During seven amazing days on the main campus of St. John's University, they learn from business gurus, develop their skills and acumen, and compete against other business-minded high school students in Envision's Entrepreneurial Challenge.

National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Engineering

Over eight incredible days at NYLF Engineering, students access cutting-edge labs and facilities on the campus of a top-ranked engineering school, learn the overarching principles of engineering, and see the vast array of engineering professions available to them. They then learn about the design thinking process, how it—along with other key concepts—can be applied across a variety of engineering disciplines, and apply their newfound skills to assist with achieving some of the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations.

National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI

At NYLF Law & CSI, students choose to pursue either a legal or CSI career experience and explore that path in a way that goes far beyond the classroom. They cover the entire judicial process in-depth through hands-on simulations and exciting site visits—from the discovery of a crime, through collecting and analyzing all of the evidence, to preparing for the courtroom process, and taking part in the criminal trial. Students also visit George Mason University for an immersive college experience relevant to their chosen career field.

National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Medicine

Students discover their passions through hands-on medical experience at NYLF Medicine. Over nine amazing days, they experience the collegiate lifestyle firsthand, hear from doctors, participate in an interactive curriculum, test their medical knowledge during clinical skills rotations, and explore professional opportunities in the ever-expanding fields of medicine and health care among fellow high school students.

National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): National Security

At NYLF National Security, students have a unique opportunity to hear from national security experts, learn about the latest intelligence strategies, and develop their leadership skills over six days. They’ll experience college life; get an insider’s look at potential career paths in America’s national security, intelligence, or diplomatic fields; and then put everything they learn into practice in a challenging, hands-on simulation.

Oxbridge Academic Programs

Based in international cultural centers and taking advantage of the many museums and historical sites nearby, students at Oxbridge programs choose two subjects—a major and a minor—from a diverse range of course offerings to study for four weeks. Courses include multiple options in science, business, the arts, and more. Outside of the classroom, they enjoy an immersive pre-college experience as well as an assortment of elective activities, guest speakers, workshops, and field trips.

Rice University Aerospace and Aviation Academy

The Rice University Aerospace & Aviation Academy, Fueled by Envision, gives students 12 days in one of the epicenters of aerospace and aviation. Attendees gain invaluable career exposure while learning from and engaging with leading minds in the space industry, including distinguished Rice University faculty members and a NASA representative, and unique access to industry facilities during career site visits. They also get hands-on experience implementing the engineering design process in multiple workshops, including the launch of a satellite, and developing and enhancing the skills they’ll need for success in a 21st century career.

Intensive Law & Trial

The Intensive Law & Trial program allows high school students to experience a full court proceeding from start to finish, ideal for any student contemplating a pre-law college major. Participants hear lectures from Stanford Law School professors on topics like witness interviewing, preparing arguments, and courtroom decorum, then work in groups to complete and refine their trial preparation work. The program’s finale is a mock trial simulation, endorsed by the American Mock Trial Association.

Roblox Game Development—Self-Study

Roblox Game Development students have the unique opportunity to explore game design, build multiplayer worlds, and publish a game from the comfort of home! Students gain tangible skills as they learn to create their own game on the Roblox game platform using a base template (Platformer, Racer, or RPG) and the Lua programming language. Through a combination of self-paced instruction, hands-on project work, and interactive tutorials designed by leading gaming gurus at George Mason University, students are fully immersed in the game-design experience!

Prerequisites: Students should be reasonably proficient with a keyboard and mouse as this course requires some typing. Each student should also have a Roblox account before beginning the class. Create an account for your student here: roblox.com. You can find more information about Lua coding here: lua.org/about.html.

Game and Technology Academy at George Mason University

Students can enjoy the Game & Technology Academy’s interactive curriculum, workshops, and simulations from the comfort of home! This program helps guide participants toward the right career for them while teaching the latest skills and next-gen technologies required for success in game design and development. Students have the opportunity to choose courses from three specialty tracks including game programming and design, machine learning/AI with Python, or art and animation. Each course includes live lectures from George Mason University professors and project assistance with George Mason University teaching assistants.

Online Medical Academy—Self-Study

During the Online Medical Academy, in collaboration with The Apprentice Doctor®, students explore medical instruments, surgical tools, examination and diagnostic techniques, as well as career opportunities in medicine via an online learning platform that features numerous accredited training courses. Through a combination of self-paced instruction, hands-on project work using the program’s comprehensive simulation kits, and interactive tutorials designed by medical professionals, they are immersed in a medical school-caliber experience and gain tangible medical and surgical skills.